Kratom
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Consumption, or the taking into your body, of its leaves produces both stimulant (upper) effects (in low doses) and sedative (downer) effects (in high doses), and can lead to psychotic symptoms and psychological addiction – affecting the mind. The psychoactive ingredient is found in the leaves from kratom tree. These leaves are crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea or placed into gel capsules.
More recently, products containing kratom have been sold as incense and aphrodisiacs (increasing sexual pleasure) in gas stations and adult stores.
At low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects with users reporting increased alertness, physical energy and talkativeness. At high doses, users experience sedative effects. Kratom consumption can lead to addiction.
Kratom’s effects on the body include nausea, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination and loss of appetite. Long-term users of kratom have experienced:
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
Several cases of psychosis resulting from use of kratom have been reported, where individuals addicted to kratom showed psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions and confusion. Set up as dietary supplement it’s also known commonly as: thang, kakuam, thom, ketum and biak.
Resources
The psychoactive ingredient – or affecting the mind – is found in the leaves from kratom tree.